State Assembly Passes State Budget For 2019-2020

GUWAHATI: With the passing of ‘The Assam Appropriation (No. II) Bill, 2019’ for Rs 99,418.90 crore from and out of the Consolidated Fund, the State Assembly passed the State Budget for 2019-2020. The Bill was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on behalf of State Finance Minister.

During consideration of the Bill, Opposition members raised a number of issues. Rupjyoti Kurmi of the Congress demanded allocation of more funds for resolution of the inter-state boundary development. He further demanded that daily wage of tea labourers should be hiked to Rs 350.

Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, also of the Congress, pointed out that many panchayat members of the previous tenure have not yet got their remuneration for 45 months, and asked the Government to initiate steps for its early release. He further stated that the MLA Area Development Fund should be increased from the present amount of Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.

Giving his reply, Minister Patowary said that he would forward the suggestions made by the members of the House to the respective Ministers.

Meanwhile, AGP MLA Phani Bhushan Choudhury pointed out to the Speaker that copies of the Appropriation Bill circulated in the House did not have the signature of the Principal Secretary of Assam Legislative Assembly. Stating that it violates the established rule of the Assembly, Speaker of the House Hitendra Nath Goswami directed the Principal Secretary to once again circulate the copies with his signature attached to them.

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